DAY 3 Dubai Fashion Week

Sneak out to gold souk and Spice market

This morning Olivia from the production team and Olivia Henderson, the stunner module sneak out for a bit of Gold Souk and Spice market action.

I take a peek at the first show, this was a group show I meet two of the designer who I interviewed after super cute identical twins from India. Riisha and iishe?? NAr I’ll have to remember – It’s a rubix cube design and it describes how love is like a rubix cube awwwwwww

Mixed with Jelin George who had some gorgeous tassle pieces with sprigs of gold

SHOW 1 – Malak El Ezzway This gorgeous little Egyptian woman was simply so cute! Her gowns were quite gorgeous and very well made. Lots of colour pop, terrible black shiny elastic bracelet and we all got ONE colourful tassle earring each. I’m not sure if that’s the look she was going for or perhaps the budget just simply did not allow for a second. (I have a feeling that was the look ;) )

me in green

I managed a sneak peek into Group A’s 4pm show, some nice evening pieces, they decorated the runway with candles. It was rather terrifying to watch as some of the longer gowns came inches from catching alight! Knowing half of these models would probably forget the length of the dress and the fact that the candles were even there, this was risky buisness!

SHOW 2 – Sai Suman This mental case Indian had the most random bunch of bollywodd-gone wrong esk outfits. My first outfit consisted of.. well.. not much. The story of a Princess becoming a Queen and dedicated to her father. It was her first show so everything was an Insane mess.

Charlotte is looking like a little bit of a stunned mullet OR the excited one

Me with all my Phillipino dresses. And yes they would all come at you at once. For some reason they didn’t understand that only ONE person can operate a zipper at a time

My second outfit

Squeeze in some interviewing, chat to a model, designer about his collection -

SHOW 3 – Ravi Bajaj – OH MY gorgeous hand made fully beaded gowns, I swear some of them weighed more than I did. The hairdressers were so confudes about what on earth to do with my hair that they actually tried to put it up.

Ksenjia and I

DAY 4 Dubai Fashion Week: Saturday

GOOD MORNING DUBAI DAY 4!!!

YES I have decided, screw this I need some goddamn un-air-conditioned AIR! Charlotte Lohmann and I decide to tell our Audi drivers to shove off ( you don’t often get to do that in life) and we choose to walk from the hotel to Dubai fashion week this morning.

HOLY CRAP!! We soon realize we ARE actually IN A DESERT! And it’s crazy freakin hot. Probably won’t be doing that again.

Me - unimpressed by our decision to walk to work in 50-degree heat.

First show of the day begins for group one… And it is our first FULL ON Abayas & Sheila (daily, formal and semi formal traditional middle-eastern wears) fashion show by HOMA Q

Front row

It was rather interesting to see the crowd, the brand had a rather large following of very well covered women. Surprise surprise! The concept was quite dark, fiery and brooding, powerful music and visuals of suns, stars and moons. Sounds cheesy but they did a very nice job!

Post show I pop into my groups hair and make-up area – It appears all the models have died due to a bad case of ‘ excessive modeling’ and someone has been kind enough to cover up their decaying bodies with blankets. JOKE. They were all just passed out due to exhaustion.

Model morgue

SHOW 1 – Maisha Creations by Mehwish Afzal

We have a MAJOR blow up backstage between Emma Norris and Vicki (backstage producer) Tempers are flaring, we are all exhausted, most of us are late and half of us can’t be woken from our ‘on-the-job’ slumber. It’s no surprise Vicky is about to blow!

Emma Norris, how could you ever fight with that face.

And as with all good fights between women it normally starts with a shoe!

The culprit shoe. Yes, it’s worth fighting about. We lost one. Only because they were so horrendously ugly.

Vicky (show producer) EXPLODES and we are all insulted as being bratty, poorly behaved models, much to our immature amusement.

Ksenjia, Nicole and Charlotte’s ‘immature amusement’ faces

The best part about this show we are about to take part in is that fact that we have not one but TWO major Bollywood stars walking on the runway and boy o’ boy these guys really enjoyed busting out a runway walk !

Check out that MO!!! Woof. And of course - sunglasses inside. God bless him.

Me in Yellow

Nicole in green - sugar gliders to the rescue

My new favourite hairdresser – The director of Frank Provis hair – Mr. Manuel!! How cute is he!! Possibly the most hopeless hairdresser director known to man kind but his 4 foot-nothingness and globe-like head just added to his Mario/Luigi brother charm!

SHOW 2 – Riimple and Mayyur Girotra

Lucky me is shoved into this extra show at the last minute, a special request was made from the designer so, although flattered, I really cannot be bothered!

Charlotte Lohmann - death by high heels and ugly skin coloured tights

Chic girls – Melise and Nicole

Chic girls

Chic’s Ivana and I

SHOW 3 – Nabrman

My first Abaya! Rather exciting!

Slightly unhappy with my prickly head piece

Charlotte Lohmann – you grumpy little devil, get your skinny butt up and stop creasing your Abaya!! Have some respect woman!

Me - moving onto a slightly happier stage where I have become one with my Abaya.

I simply HAD to see this show next show of Group A, Ush Design, Abaya’s like you have never seen them. There was a bucket of hype surrounding Ush designs. Apparently this is the daughter of one of the richest men in the Emirates and she is sparing NO expense. She has a massive following and I am super excited to see what creations she has brought to blow Dubai fashion weeks mind!

Robot backdrop/ dancers - The visuals were brilliant, loud and confronting. Power to women was the concept.

Chic’s Rachel Rutt, much to her dismay they painted her face gold, never a pleasant experience BUT it did looked amazing

Chic’s Megan Hind.

This show was simply UNBELIEVABLE! By far the best I had witnessed so far. The visuals were outstanding and every single model that walked out danced at the end of the runway.. Hilarious but they all committed to their own little dance so it looked brilliant!

I never ever thought in my wildest dreams that Abaya’s could be so sexy. This designer had created Abaya designs with spikes, thorns, chunks of gold or silver, tassels making a simple garment into a piece of wearable, sexy art. I would happily wear one of her designs any day. Bravo Ush!

SHOW 4 – Meher and Riddhima

YAY last show for the day! Gorgeous stuff, almost too pretty. Soft, delicate, young pastel colours. The show opened with a piano player and a little garden that had been assembled in the middle of the runway.

Chic’s Ksenjia and Emma Norris

Chic’s Anna

We get out of there at Midnight. By this stage my legs are ready to drop off. Only one more day!

Day 5 Dubai Fashion Week

This has become the usual start to the day. Due to exhaustion we modules find any small patch of land and sleep on it until someone screams its time to get up.

Girls asleep. At least this girls have had the courtesy of getting their hair and make-up done before hitting the couch. I mean, we all know how much better hair and make-up looks when we have slept on it.

Today I once again shuffle my way into check out the first show of Group A. It’s another mixed designer show, they have taken photos of each of the models and coordinated it so that as they walk onto the runway their shot is displayed on the backdrop. It looks great.

Chic’s Megan Hind shot

Rachel Rutt

The audience

SHOW 1 – Shrekahnth

Bless his cotton socks, this designers name was Shrek and he actually rocked up in a green velvet suit. How awesome is that! Not sure he knows whom our version of Shrek is, probably best I didn’t inform him.

Make – up – interesting lines on our face.. Not sure Ksenjia nor I were too keen on it.

Anna and Charlotte

Ksenjia – In her fiery, lava-like silk outfit.

The backdrop was the same pattern as each individual outfit we were wearing so when we walked on, it appeared we had walked through the backdrop.. Trippy!

I have sprung Jack Bedwani under the table asleep from the purest and more sheer exhaustion he has felt in a while! The only thing giving away his location were two small feet pooping out from under the table.

Jack Bedwani (group A’s show producer)

I manage to squeeze in a wee bit of interviewing.. Can’t imagine how much sense I was making considering I’m running on about 6 hours of sleep and haven’t sat down for 10hrs!

SHOW 2 – Dan Couture

Abaya designer - Traditional Middle Eastern dress

Here I am looking as saucy as possible in the designer Dan couture. Who doesn’t like a lil leopard print in their life

Emma Norris

Charlotte Lohmann 

SHOW 3 – Rossini

(Russian Hooker show. WOOF what a show.)

I wasn’t meant to be in it due to lack of breasts which was more than fine by me. The designer had so much surgery and botox that he could barely crack a smile OR a frown – much to our amusement. All he could say to me was ‘I need real woman, with teet-ties’ so that counts me out! But some how they found me a couple of frocks, I have never looked so much like a Russian Prosi in my life, deep red lips ‘Russian Red’ by MAC very appropriate, and smouldering smokey eyes.. Along with my peroxide hair I was hoping to get quite a fine hourly fee ;) Joke. As were several of my fellow modules mates.

Mario Rossini head designer - Emma Norris and I pulling out our best Russian raunch!

I’m ready to consume an entire bottle of wine, ravenous for my second dinner considering its already 12.30am by the time we leave, and it all has to be done in my bed! Damn I need about 80 shoulder, leg and back massages!!

ONLY ONE MORE DAYYYYYYYY!!!!!

Day 6 Dubai Fashion Week: Last Day

Whooo hoo last day! Lordy, are all sooo freakin exhausted, I have completely run out of knickers and have had to start washing them in the sink. My hair is well and truly fried and if my skin sees one more MAC brush it’s going to turn inside out.

Model sprung – very well camouflaged. No one will ever know she is there – smart module

Its an EARLY start today, 8AM so we can get in for rehearsal for the Amber Feraz show. This show will involve bats, fake blood and general mayhem. Apparently it NEEDS a rehearsal. I did have to agree.

BUT first I pop my head in to check out what is happening first up for Group A.

Designer – ‘Pure Elegance USA’ – Not exactly how I would of personally described it but who am I to judge!

Olivia Henderson and Dubai fashion week backdrop

Awww I think this must be her family! Very cute. It’s the first show of the day and the Emiratees don’t arise till around 12/1pm so it’s usually the later shows that get busy. There is nothing fun about walking for a crowd of chubby family members.

Finale – shot of all the girls

SHOW 1 – Barjis

Very elegant RTW style gear for the woman who wants to cover up but still look chic. I think she did a marvelous job! Fashion week got her to ride in onto the runway on a Harley Davidson motorcycle – cracked every single tile on the catwalk much to my amusement. That was well thought out.

Chic’s Anna - Whom opens the show on the back of a Harley

Emma and Nicole

I poke my head into see the other groups next designer whom I also score an interview with after the show. Roopa Pemmaraju, a designer from Melbourne who collaborates with her partner who lives in India. They have created this gorgeous collection for men and women inspired by our Australian Aboriginal artwork. The best part is that she doesn’t like the male models chosen so we throw in the Australian production team. Had to see this one! And yes the local male models were… rather self-consumed on an unhealthy level. We had to almost taser them to release the mirrors!

In white is Miro – Front of house security – not a bad runway walker if I do say so myself!

This is Graz – Dubai Fashion week’s DJ – not the best walker, he should not quit his day job.

Finale group shot, aboriginal backdrop

SHOW 2 – Amber Feroz –

Amber’s couture collection was made within two weeks so about a third of the garments weren’t finished and had to be cut from the show. Mine didn’t arrive in the building until 5 minutes before we were meant to go on. He forced the show callers to be so late that we ended up running an hour and a half behind schedule. This is bad news for the rest of the evening where everyone else’s show will now be running at least 90min late!

Jessica – local model – scary

Charlotte Lohmann – is officially OVER this week. And quite possibly over me and my camera. I love how ridiculous this make up was on her.

Nicole

Nicole and I… looking rather creepy!

The shows resident screamer – After we have finished screaming at the ‘bat’ on stage he comes out and runs around the stage like an epileptic maniac who has just lost his mother.

On the runway

Amber wants us to act out some ridiculous scene about struggling artists breaking free of control and communicating to bats who, alike the artist, are misunderstood. There were a few more minor details but you get the jist. Much to our dismay as models DO NOT act or enjoy publically humiliating themselves, which Amber was asking us to do.

Me on the runway. My outfit finally arrived

This designer was a serious nutter, he was asking us to congregate and walk in a circle in the centre of the room and act more or less like frustrated zombies.. we then all had to walk over to this ‘cage’ (basically a circle of sharp glass) and scream insanities at the model who representing the bat. I’m not sure about the rest of the crew but I had a ball! I must say I do a damn fine zombie and everyone likes a good scream every now and again.

I thought we had somewhat interesting make-up happening for the Amber show and then I bump into this!

Model with knob on her head. Not happy Jan.

I know there is something scary coming up in the next show when I walk past Group A and see this finished hair and make-up.

I interview Amber after and mispronounce his last name – go RETARDED model!

This next show of Group A’s was meant to be rather large! The designer Furne One designing his collection Amato couture was to be a highlight of the week and Furne definitely came through with the goods! His long list of dressed celebs included Pamela Anderson, Joan Collins, Katie Perry for a recent music video clip, Kaki West and Tina Padley. The gowns were quite possibly the most uncomfortable, incredible pieces I have ever seen. With fairy light sewn in, face masks and wire, there was quite a dark kinky a element of heavy bondage. He really brought the house down, bravo Furne!

SHOW 3 – Red dress show –

Fashion weeks closing show - a charity show where each designer gave a red dress from their collection and then we (the modules) were supposed to wait around after the fashion show so our gowns could be auctioned off whilst we were in them.. Ha, fat chance of that! Plus I was in some fat ass Abaya, absolutely boiling, damn those women must get stinky. This show was planned for 10.30 but did not go on until about 1am and the crowd were getting a little furious, not surprisingly.

Melise and Samantha Harris – ONLY ONE MORE SHOW THEY CRY!

Yes, one more show and every single girl is involved.

Olivia giving us her best Charlie’s Angel. She ain’t no angle, I can vouch for that! ;)

When models get hungry we often eat our shoes.

This woman never wants to see me again for as long as she lives. Vicki – our show producer.

Here I am trying to share my Abaya with Emma. For some weird reason I am the ONLY person wearing black in a RED DRESS SHOW. Weird.

The legendary Fashion week mogul - Simon Lock - and I

Yikes, what a crazy week!! It smacked us like a bull at a gate and everyone hit the ground running. An amazing contribution from everyone involved really brought this fashion week that was once in such a messy heap, to a whole other level. Bravo Simon Lock and the team, I had an absolute ball!

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